Flexible coupling



March 24, 1925. 1,530,390

G. F. WILSON FLEX! BLE CO'JPLI NC Filed Jan. 22, 1924' Jill/P771 01?together, 3o

' WVhere a plurality of parsllcl Fatented Mar. 2 1925.

TENT w esonon r. WILSON, or Anson, orz'ro,

.sssronon so ran 13. r. GOODRICH conrnnr,

FLEXIBLE cournmo.

Application filed January 22, 1824. Serial No. 687,698.

To ii-Z whom it may conform:

Be it. known that I, GEORGE, F. Wilson, a citizen of the United States,residing at Akron, in the county of Summit and State of Qhio, haveinventeda'certiin new and useful Flexible Qoupling, of which the-foblowin is a specification.

This invention relates to power transmission couplings and the like andmore particularly to flexible or resilient elements therefor. Auniversal joint of the disk suitable for use in the power transmissionsystem of an automobile, hasbeen chosen for illustration in theaccompanying drawings, but my invention is susceptible of differentembodiments. Flexible coupling members of various kinds, usually in diskform, heretofore have been used in universal joints and the like, butWhere rub berized fabricdisks have been used in such a joint thebuckling oi the compression segments of the disk and the repeatedflexure of .such segments has resulted in ply stepsration and undulyrapid deterioration. disks have been used between the spider arms, thebuckling of the compression segments of the disks has frequently causedthem to rub deitiroying the material of the disk. provbd flexible orresilient element for connecting rigid members of a mechanism such, forexample, as the spiderslof a universal joint of the flexible disk type,and especially in combination with rigid anchorage members, inclementadapted to be subjected to tension or to compression, or to both inalter nation, or to be repeatedly flexed, for long periods of timeWithout great deterioration. A more specific object is to provide animproved, flexible power-transmission joint in which resilent membersare inter posed operatively between the shafts, so as to cushion theaction of the latter, and in which such resilient members will notrapidly deteriorate in use. Further objects are simplicity and economyof construction and improved cushioning and flexing qualities in acoupling element. Another more specific object is to provide a couplingelement, comprising rubberized fabric, for example, which will beflexible and yet adepted to not by compression with substantial forceand Without rnnirl deterioration due to with the result ofover-heatingrind general object is to. provide an im-' buckling and ply separation,

pling members 15, said bodies (if rubber 1nd the or without excessiveflexure under'compression, such as has occurred in flexible couplingdisks here-- tofore used.

Of the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is'aside elevation of a un1versal joint embodying my invention ina preferred form.

Fig. 2 is an elevgionof a flexible coupling member constituti a. part ofthe striicture shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is ii section OIl llIlG 3-3,0f Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of a set of clamping membersemployed in the structure of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a sectional perspective s flexible coupling member embodyingmy invention in a modified form.

Referring to the drawings, and ll are the adjacent end portions of apairof shafts view of connected by a universal joint'of thedisk i.

said joint comprising a pair of spiders 12, 13, secured to the ends ofthe respective shafts and having their arms 12, 12' and 13, 13* disposedin alternate relation, as

is usual in universal joints of the disk type.

.Myimproved, flexible coupling member, '14, in the form-here showncomprises a pair of annular facing members or layers 15, 15, oflaminated, rubberized fabric, and radially disposed,approximatelyfrustoconical cushion bodies of rubber '16, 16, spacedapart circumferenticlly of the coumember and lying between the facinglaminations of rubberized fabric all being vulcanized together. Said'facing members are joined together throughout radial clamp-receiving orattachment 17, 17,

between the rubber bodies ltiptne latter, 7

with the rubberized iabric surrounding them, constitutingrelatively wideor thick and consequently non-buckl1ng zones 18, 18, Fig. 2',alternating with the relatively thin attachment zones 17, the rubberbody 16 being adapted by reason of its deformability to permit a bendingof the coupling mem her just outside of the attachment zone.

.The attachment zones 17 are formed with respective bolt holes 19,through which extend clamping bolts -20, 20, which secure the couplingmember to the res ective spider arms, each bolt beingprovi ed on eachside of the coupling member with a radially disposed, preferably narrow,t:i

pered clamp 21, formed with a rounded face:

ments in' the alternateor intervening quad rents are compressed. Theconstruction of my coupling member is such as to pbrmit thismisalignment, by the 'stretrhability and compressibility of the sements, without undue strain upon'the fabric, the latter simplyincreasing or decreasing its lmlged condition. When a substantialdriving load is sutained by the joint, the stretchability of thecoupling memberas to certain segments permits other segments to be putunder compression,or under increased compressit'm, by the drivingtorque. The thickened portions 18 are adapted to act by such compressionto transmit a very substantial portion of the driving torque, and thiswithout,excessive local tlexure of the fabric facing members [5, the.ftexure of the latter being prevented from excessively lot-alizing bythe compelling action of the rubber cores 16 and the rounded clamps 21.

\Vhen the shafts are angularly misaligned, as shown in Fig. 1 and astheyusually are, in universal joints employed in automobiles, forexample, t e coupling member 14 yields readily to permit suchmisalignment, which, as above stated, involves elongation of somesegmentsv and shortening of others, the rubber bodies or cores 16 beingsufficiently detor-mable'to permit a. stretching ora. compression of thesegments between the spider arms without: excessive elongation orstraining or buckling of the fabric numbers. as the bulging "form of thelatter permits them to give by straightening or by bulgingas well as byelongation or by ('OHIIIl't 'sion, the riibber bodies between themacting as yielding struts.

The thicke ed portions 18 are next-u au acent the clamps as theangularrelationof the spiders ax'es is varied, the coupling member sowrapping about andmaintaming a compression bearing against the convexshoulders 18 of the clamps that. the direct lines of compressive forcebetween adjacent spider, arms, in the compression segments,

pare sustained between the securely held, in-

den'ted portionsof the disechiefly bearing.

respectively, against one of the forward. "clamps at one -spider armandthe rearward "clampat the other spider arm. Thus the segments areadapted to be deformed sym metricall with relation to such lines offorce,- w en compressed by. the. driving orque. and do not buckle; thefabric faring :terioration of the material.

the convex clamps, and thus members 15 adjacent the rubber bodies 16simply bulging out slightly farther, on the two opposite sides of thecoupling member. without excessive localization of flexure.

The thickened zones 18 are thus adapted to transmit torque bycompression without such deformation as to result in rapid de- VVhilethe relatively thin attachment zones are securely held by the clamps,the adjacent portions of the zones 18 are sufliciently flexible ordeformable to permit local flexure of the coupling member by theirindentation against the flexure, as distinguished from sim le tensionand compression, is sutiicientl j' localized-adjacent the clamps 21 topermitthe thickened portions 18 to accommodate themselves to thedifferent positions of the spider arms i\-'it.l1out'sucl1-tlexure oftheir middle portions as to subject them to buckling when placed undercompression between the spider arms. The attachment zones and theintervening thickened zones are preferably tapered toward. a commoncenter, as shown, so that as the angular relation of the'spiders isvaried the relation of the tapered clamps to the. shoulders 18 of thethickened zones will continue. to be substa'ntiall the same throughoutthe length of said clamps, but my invention is not wholly limited tothis feature.

In the modification shown in Big. 1), the specific form of which I donot claim as my invention, the rubber core member is hot lowed out asshown at 22, to increase its de formability which permitsthe stretchingof alternate segments necessary to putting the intervening segmentsunder compression, while retaining the advantage of preventing burklingand excessive localization of flexnre, and also to ventilate. andprevent overheating of the thickened segments.

Further modifications may be resorted to within the scope of 'myinvention, and '1 do not wholly limit my claims to the specificembodiments shown .l: claim:

t. In combination with a power driven meclianisn'i, a'couplingcomprising a pair of rigid 'anchorage members and a coupling memberconnecting the two, said coupling member comprising. a relatively thinportion, attached to one of said anchorage members and adapted byflexnre to permit variatioii of the angular relation of the latter, andarelatively thick portion between said anchorage-members, united withsaid thin portioirand adapted to act by compression to transmit t ul'ccfrom one to tilt other ()i said anchorage. members 'withont buckling,although the angular relation of said an -l rngc nu-mhers be raried aspermitted by said thin portion.

2. in combination with a power driven mechanism, a coupling comprising apair of rigid anchorage members and a coupling ,mcmbcr connecting thetwo, said coupling member com rising at relatively thick, resilicnt bodybetween said anchorage members and adapted to transmit force bycomression between the two, and flexible means liinging said body tosaid anchorage members. D A'couplin comprising a air of ri id anchoragemom "ers and a coupling mom or connecting the two, said coupling membercomprising a relatively thick, non-buckling body between said anchoragemembers and adapted to transmit force by compression between the two,

said-bod to said'anchorage members, said body an said flexiblemeanstogether comprising a structure of rubber and fibrous material bulgin indouble convex form to provide said he y and narrowing ad qacent saidanchorage members to provide said flexiblemeans. 4. A couplingcomprising a pair of rigid 2 anchorage members and a coupling memberconnecting the two, said coupling-member comprising a to provide relaanda rela- "ively thick core'embraced by said surfacing between saidattachment portions to provide "abe dy portion adapted to contact said'anehoraige members to transmit -force by compression, the relativethicknesses of said body portion and said attachment portions being suchas to localize flexure of said coupling member adjacent said attachmentportions.

5 A coupling comprising a pair of rigid at spaced apart positions,tively thin attachment portions,

f connectingg the two, said coupling member "comprisin two oppositesurface layersof ,rubberizet fabric clamped to said anchorage membersand closely approaching each other thereat, and a body of rubber betweensaid anchorage members and embraced by and vulcanized to said layers offabric, said coupling-"member being of such small cross section at saidanchorage members as to localize'its llexure thcrcat as the angularrelation' of said anchorage members is varied, and of such largecross-potion throughout the rest of the span between said anchoragemembers as to act by compression and without buckling to'transmit forcebetween said members notwithstanding variations in the angular relationof the latter.

6. A coupling comprising a pair ofrigid anchorage members, a couplingmember connecting the two, said coupling member com prising a thick,double-conveir, medial por 'tion adapted to act by compression totransmit force between said anchorage members, and rel'ativelv thin,attachment portions sccured to said .zincliora'gc members, said meandflexible means hinging surfacing of flexible material "converging intozones of small cross-section- "anchorage members and a coupling member.

dial portion being resilient under compression, and means on saidanchorage members, fitting against the'juuctions ot tlic attaclh mentportions with said medial portion, for transmitting compressive forcesto or re-- cciving such forces from said medial portion. y

7. A power transmission coupling member comprising a circumferentialseries of relatively thin, radially disposed attachment zones andrelativel thick, inwardly tapered, radially dispose elastic zonesalternating with said attachment zones, the construction being such asto localize flexure adjacentsaid attachment zonesas'said member isdistorted."

8. A coupling disk comprising a circu m' ferential series of inwardlytapered, radial- 1y disposed, conoidal rubber cushions, and r acings ofrubberized fabric embracing-and vulcanized to said cushions, saidcushions. providin relatively thick zones alternating with 're ativelythin, radially disposed, clamp-receiving zones.

9. A power transmission coupling uuulprising a pair of juxtaposed,approximately coaxial rotary members, resilient, torquetransmittingmeans interposed op'eratively between the two, said means comprising acircumferential series of radially disposed, inwardly tapered, conoidalcushions'comprising rubber, relatively thin, radially disposedattachment zones integral with said cushions at opposite sides of each,and a mo series of pairs of radially disposed, inwardly tapered clampsembracing the attachment zones to secure" the said torque-trans mittingmeans to said rotary members, and adapted to abut said cushions totransmit compressive forces thereto.

10. A power-transmission coupling -member comprising: a structure ofrupber and fibrous material bulging in doubecom'cx format"circumfcrentiaily spaced-apart portions and narrowing to providerelatively thin portions between the bulged portions.

11. A power-transurission couplingrorm prising a pair oi" spidersdisposed with their arms in alternate relation and a coupling memberinterposed operatively between and attached to theseveral arms of saidspiders, said coupling member, comprising a surfacing of fibrousmaterial converging into zones of small cross-section at said spiderarms, to provide relatively thin attachment portions, and relativelythick cores embraced by said surfacing between said attachment portionsto provide non-bukling compres- ..'on elements for torque transmission.

12. A power-transmission coupling member comprising a surfacingoffiorous material converging into zones of small crosssection "at aseries of circumferentially spaced apart positions and cores embracedsaid surfacing between said zones of .small cross-section to providerelatively thick and non-buckling zones,

13. A power-transmission coupling comprising a pair of spiders disposedwith their arms in alternate relation and a coupling member interposedoperatively between and attached to the several arms of said spiders,said coupling member comprising two opposite surface layersof rubberizedfabric clamped to said spider arms and closely approaching each otherthereat, and bodies of rubber embraced by and vulcanized to said fabriclayers in spaces between adjacent spider arms, said coupling memberssitions to provide narrow clamping zones,

radially disposed, inwardly tapered bodies of rubber embraced by andvulcanized to said fabric layers between said narrow zones, and pairs ofradially disposed, inwardly tapered clamps embracing said attachmentzones and formed with convex shoulders opposed to. the fabric overlyingsaid bodies of rubber.

15. A power-transmission coupling comprising a pair of spiders disposedwith their arms in alternate relation and a coupling member interposedoperatively between and attached to the several arms of said spiders,

said coupling member comprising thick, double-convex portions between'ad acent spider arms, adapted to act by compression to transmit forcebetween said spider arms,

and -relativel thinand flexible means hinging said thic r portions tosaid spider ,arms, said thick portions being resilient undercompression, and means on said spider arms, fitting against the junctionof the' hinging means with the thick portions, for transmittingcompressive forces to or receiving such forces from said thick portions.

16. A power-transmission coupling comprising a pair of spiders disposedwith their arms in alternate relation and a'couplin member interposedoperatively between an attached to the several arms of said spiders,said coupling member comprising a circumferentially spaced series ofthin, fan-shaped attachment zones, the conver ing sidelines of all ofsaid zones being radial with relation to a common center, bulging,doubleconvex, radially tapered zones between said attachment zones,presenting shoulders .extending along the converging side lines of thelatter, and radially tapered abutment means on said spider arms fittingagains said shoulders. A I

17. A power-transmission coupling member comprising a circumferentiallyspacedapart series of thick, cushion portions comprising rubber, andthin attachment portrons connecting said cushion port1ons,.sa1d

member being adapted for localization of fiexure adjacent saidattachment portions as the said member is distorted.

18. A power-transmssion coupling member comprising a circumferentiallyspacedapart series of thick cushion portionscomposed chiefly of rubber,and attachment-pom tions'connecting said cushion portionsand reinforcedwith fibrous material attheir junctions with said cushion portions, thesaid member bein flexure at sai junctions asthe said memberis distorted.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my'liand this 18th day of J anuar{1924.

GEORGE F. WILSON.

adapted fordocaliZBJtiO-n of

